Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/3722

3722 'The kingdom of heaven suffers violence....'

March 23, 1946: Book 47

Now let Me give you an explanation as to how I want My Word to be understood: 'The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and only those who use violence seize it....' It is not to be understood as an exercise of violence towards one's fellow human being, but only the violence over oneself, over one's own desires, which helps the human being to gain possession, to take possession of the heavenly kingdom in all its glory. This cannot be given to him, but he must win it for himself, he must fight a battle for the highest good, for eternal bliss. And as long as the human being remains on earth this battle will have to be directed towards his physical desires, the fulfilment of which is always an obstacle to achieving the goal.... spiritual upward development.... Anyone who wants to be victorious in this battle has to do violence to himself.... And thus he has to fight with his adversary, who will always place physical desires, the longing for earthly possessions, into him, who will therefore entice him with worldly splendour and earthly glamour. To renounce everything that is offered to him in this way requires strength of will, it requires violence in itself, but by virtue of which he will most certainly seize the kingdom of heaven, for he who sacrifices for My sake will receive in the richest measure, and what is offered to him, what I offer him, is truly of indescribable value. The kingdom of heaven can never come to people who are indifferent and indolent, who do not struggle but let everything take its course.... who only testify to their desire for the kingdom of heaven through words and wishes but who never turn words and wishes into action. And thus the time has come when force has to be used more than ever if the kingdom of heaven is to be open to people.... Yet in My love I come to meet all those who fight.... I help them in their fight against themselves by reducing the temptations of this world, by showing them the frailty and transience of everything they desired, and which giving up requires a hard fight against themselves.... I know about the human being's weakness and assess his will, thus I stand by him if he only wants to gain Me and My kingdom but lacks the strength to use force against himself and his desires. And thus I will not demand more use of force than he is capable of.... I let him go through earthly hardship in order to make the kingdom of heaven desirable to him, and if he only wants to use the slightest violence he will also succeed in seizing the kingdom of heaven. But his will must always become active itself. He must fight against his desires, he must learn to despise everything worldly and thus sacrifice what is dear to him.... and if his strength and his will are not sufficient for this I shall use force.... I draw him to Me and take from him what he does not want to give up on his own.... And if he surrenders to My will he has passed the inner battle. He has likewise used force and seized the kingdom of heaven with My support, which I will not deny to anyone who is willing and testifies to Me through his prayer. The kingdom of heaven is open to him, and once he has completed his short time on earth he will be received by Me into My kingdom of glory, as I have promised, and he will be eternally happy....

Amen

Translated by Sven Immecke